Why study this course?

What will I learn?

You will graduate with the knowledge to formulate physiotherapeutic diagnoses and provide appropriate programs of the therapeutic exercise and treatments to those primarily with physical conditions.

Studies in behavioural and biomedical science, as well as clinical experience, will prepare you for employment as an entry-level physiotherapist in a variety of health care settings, such as hospitals, community health centres, rehabilitation centres and private practices.

You will also develop skills in learning, problem solving and decision making, which are essential for continued high-level practice as a physiotherapist.

Professional recognition

CSU's Bachelor of Physiotherapy has been awarded full accreditation with the Australian Physiotherapy Council (APC). Graduates of the course are eligible for registration in all states and territories of Australia, and may also work internationally.

Career opportunities

Physiotherapy is an important part of the health care environment. As experts in movement, physiotherapists play a key role in promoting, preventing and helping people across their lifespan maintain their health, physical function and lifestyle.

Graduates work professionally as physiotherapists throughout the health care system; in hospitals, within the community, private practices, and organisations such as the Cerebral Palsy Alliance in a range of roles including:

acute hospital work

rehabilitation

geriatric care

private practitioners

sports therapies

You may also work in:

education

management

research

public or private healthcare sectors as a consultant.

If you want a dynamic and rewarding health career, which exists in a fun and friendly community environment, physiotherapy offers diverse employment opportunities that can take you places within Australia and around the world.

The demand for physiotherapists is growing across Australia and rural people, in particular, are increasingly finding themselves lacking a service sufficient for their needs.

CSU graduates have a proven high employment rate.

Credit and pathways

If you are accepted into CSU's Bachelor of Physiotherapy and feel you have completed subjects or work experience that would be eligible for recognition, you can apply for credit after you have enrolled into the course. You will be required to submit sufficient documentation to the University for consideration. Common areas of credit are physiology and psychology. Credit may result in a reduced workload, but it is uncommon for credit to result in a reduced course duration.

Workplace learning

To ensure you graduate as a confident and successful professional practitioner, you will start training as a physiotherapist from your first day of study, completing 1,000 hours of clinical experience during your course. Practical experience is essential to assist students in developing a high level of clinical reasoning and skills ideally suited for current health and community contexts. We provide clinical education opportunities that prepare students to work in a wide range of environments, with emphasis on meeting the needs of regional, rural and remote communities. Interacting with other allied health professionals in a clinical environment is also an important aspect of your practical experience.

Clinical placement in each year constitutes the following:

1st year: a few half-day placements

2nd year: a three-week block placement at the end of the year

3rd year: two four-week block placements throughout the year

4th year: a three-week, five-week and three four-week block placements throughout the year.

You will have some input into the location of your clinical placements, but the course will ensure that you have a good variety of experiences over the four years. Opportunities for international experience also exist through CSU Global's Short Term programs.

Clinical placements complement academic coursework and meet the competencies required for registering as a Physiotherapist within Australia.

Learning Facilities

You will learn using state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities designed to simulate a range of clinical environments, which you will find once you are out in the workplace. These advanced facilities include:

musculoskeletal clinic

hospital ward

rehabilitation gym

movement laboratory

state-of-the-art computer centres

Immunisation

NSW Health is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all clients in health care settings and providing a safe and healthy working environment for all staff and other clinical personnel, including students undertaking workplace learning. This commitment includes adopting an assessment, screening and vaccination policy Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specific Infectious Diseases (PD2011_005) that minimises the risk of acquiring infectious diseases. Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all health facility staff, including students on clinical placement.

Students must comply with NSW Health immunisation and vaccination requirements and be verified prior to being allocated to a workplace learning facility. This applies to all students regardless of state or territory. All students must undergo vaccination against infectious diseases prior to being allocated to a facility within NSW or other states. Results of these vaccinations are kept on a personal record card (available from the School through which the student is studying). This card must be presented, upon request, by NSW Health, or other health facility staff, whilst the student is attending workplace learning.

The Policy requires that you consult your local doctor to obtain written proof of protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and hepatitis B.

NOTE: It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the requirements of this policy have been met, and failure to comply with the requirements may jeopardise completion of your studies.

As a full course of vaccinations may take several months to complete, you are advised to consult your local medical practitioner well in advance of the commencement of your studies.

PLEASE NOTE that, as many courses involve workplace learning in the first year of study, the hepatitis B immunisation should be commenced early to meet NSW Health requirements.

Working with Children Check

Students must have a Working with Children Check. To apply for this Working with Children Check, fill in an online application form. Once the form has been submitted, follow the instructions for collection.

First Aid Certificate

All students are required to have a current First Aid Certificate, obtained at their own cost, from an accredited body (Workcover approved) before undertaking any workplace learning.The Senior First Aid Certificate must be current for the duration of the course.

If you are an Enrolled/Division 2 Nurse or Paramedic you may instead provide documentation from a current employer which indicates evidence of competency based CPR accreditation.

NOTE: As many courses include workplace learning in the first session, students are advised to complete their First Aid Certificate prior to commencement of their first year of study.

Residential schools

Admission information

Indicative ATAR

9000

CSU's Bachelor of Physiotherapy offers 40 places at Albury-Wodonga Campus, 40 places at Orange Campus and 40 places at Port Macquarie Campus for new students each year. These places are in high demand. Competition from year-to-year dictates the entry score, but as an indication, the published score is usually over 90.00. This includes Regional Bonus Points, available to eligible students who complete their schooling in regional NSW or Victoria.

While there are no prerequisite HSC subjects specified for admission, the course involves the study of science-based subjects. Applicants will benefit from having studied English and mathematics as well as science subjects. Successful applicants who believe they do not have an appropriate science background may consider undertaking subjects offered in CSU's STUDY LINK supplementary program prior to commencing the course.

Please note the TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate is not accepted for entry into the Bachelor of Physiotherapy.

The application process

The normal application process for CSU's Bachelor of Physiotherapy is through UAC or VTAC.

STAT or UMAT scores are not considered for entry into CSU's Bachelor of Physiotherapy. For school leavers, the ATAR is all that is considered. For applicants who have studied at tertiary level, previous Grade Point Average (GPA) is the primary indicator, with their ATAR also considered. Over the past five years, the average GPA has been around 6.0. This constitutes a Distinction, or B or H2 average.

If you are not accepted into this course, you are advised to consider whether physiotherapy is the profession you really want to pursue. To assist you with this decision, you could obtain some work experience or seek advice from a career counsellor. If you still wish to pursue physiotherapy as a career and you have no Year 12 qualification, or if your first ATAR was not high enough, you may consider re-sitting Year 12. Alternatively, you could enrol in another course with the view to reapplying for CSU's Bachelor of Physiotherapy in future. You should enrol in a course that is of interest to you, that you feel you will do well in and that you will be happy to stay in should you not be accepted into the Bachelor of Physiotherapy on your following applications. All Bachelor degrees are considered equally and no preference is given to particular fields of study.

International applicants

International applicants should apply direct to the University for admission to the Bachelor of Physiotherapy. Places are highly competitive, and students should submit an application at the earliest opportunity.

First-round offers are made in August, and if places remain, second-round offers may be made in September or October. Late applications will be considered with applicants for the next intake.

International students who have already completed a Diploma or equivalent may be eligible for credit for relevant study. Credit packages may be available for some Diplomas. Applicants with a prior qualification, such as a Diploma, Advanced Diploma or equivalent, may apply at the time of application. Subject outlines are to be submitted for credit to be assessed.

Non-school leavers / mature-aged applicants

Each year, depending on the quality of applications, around 20 to 25 students are admitted who are not directly from Year 12. Some may have completed as little as one year of university study in another degree, and others may have completed degrees and have significant life experience.

Non-school leavers are judged on a combination of their ATAR and their grades at a Bachelor level (or higher) from a tertiary institution. The primary method of ranking non-school leaver applicants is according to the Grade Point Average (GPA) of previous tertiary study plus their ATAR. The length of prior study is also taken into account, as well as the level of study, e.g. Bachelor degree versus postgraduate degree. All Bachelor degrees are considered equal - no preference is given to particular fields of study.

Physical demands

CSU's Bachelor of Physiotherapy course involves physical demands on students, particularly in clinical placements. Students will be undertaking practical classes where they will be expected to practise skills on other students as well as act as models for their colleagues. Any students who believe that they may have difficulty with these requirements are advised to contact the Course Coordinator or the Student Equity Officer through info.csu on 1800 334 733 before enrolling.

Travel away from home

You will undertake clinical placements away from your home campus and place of residence. CSU will locate and organise clinical placements for you and you will have some preference in the allocation of placements, however, these preferences cannot always be met.

Cost of study

In some instances a tax deduction may be claimed for self education expenses. Please seek independent qualified taxation advice.

Tuition costs

Australian and New Zealand Students

Commonwealth supported place

You will make a student contribution (formerly HECS) towards the cost of your tuition fees. Commonwealth supported places may be limited for this course.

Options:

Defer your payment using a HECS-HELP loan, which is repaid through the taxation system once your income reaches a certain threshold

Pay your student contribution fee up-front each session

8564*

Student contribution fee for your first year of study

* This is an estimated fee for your first year of study based on a full-time study load (eight 8 point subjects). Should you be studying less than eight subjects in your first year, the fees would be decreased proportionally. This figure excludes the Student Services and Amenities fee. If your entire course is less than the equivalent of one year of full-time study, then the figure displayed is calculated as a percentage of a full-time study load e.g. 50%.

CRICOS Code(s)

Thinking of deferring?

About the School

The School of Community Health

The School of Community Health aims to work in partnership with communities to provide quality allied health education and research, offering courses in the areas of health and rehabilitation science, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry and speech pathology. Courses are delivered across three campuses at Albury-Wodonga, Orange and Port Macquarie. The School aims to develop future health graduates to work both nationally and internationally, developing specific skills in regional and rural practice. The School uses a range of innovative teaching practices that seek to foster graduates' ability to work in the current and future health environment, and have received citations and awards for excellence in teaching.

Preparing for Study

This School recommends any of the following short, self-paced, online STUDY LINK subjects to students who wish to reinforce knowledge and skills prior to starting at CSU:

SSS010 - Introduction to Chemistry

SSS011 - Introductory Physics

Any of the following subjects are recommended for students who wish to improve the areas of writing and grammar prior to starting at CSU:

SSS024 - Grammar Essentials for Writing at University

These subjects are particularly useful for those people who feel that they may have knowledge gaps and need a refresher because they have not studied for some time. STUDY LINK subjects are free for CSU Commonwealth-supported students as soon as they accept their offer of a place; small fees apply for others. They are non-credit bearing subjects. A Subject Coordinator assists students with any questions.The full subject list and enrolment forms are on the STUDY LINK website.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.

Throughout their studies, CSU students have a responsibility to continue to develop skills in English Language, literacy and numeracy as appropriate to their discipline. This ongoing development will enable students to effectively participate in their course and graduate as competent professionals.

APPLICATION DATES

Please note that not all courses have an intake each session and some courses may have earlier closing dates. Check the course details and admission information for your course.

PREPARING FOR STUDY?

A STUDY LINK subject may help you prepare for University. You can study short, self-paced, online subjects to increase your skills and develop a clear understanding of the expectations of studying at University.